No Eggs and overall chicken health

[Chickety Charcoal]

That's what I am using. A little for the wild birds, a little for the chickens. I am also giving them the seeds IN the shell. Can this be problematic in their crop or digestion? I don't want any blockages from wadded up sunflower shells.

 

[Marcymom3]

They're fine with the shells. Do you have plenty of grit for them? As long as you do, there shouldn't be any problems with the BOSS shells. My chickens go through grit so fast! I just bought 20 lbs two weeks ago and I put it around the inside perimeter of their run. I am probably going to have to get more early next week. Next time I'm going to get 50 lbs!

 

[Chickety Charcoal]

I do have plenty of grit but they seem to go thru it very slowly. I don't spread it on the ground but keep it in a deep tin in their run. It is an old cookie tin that I filled months ago and still has plenty left. I do see them pecking at it but I have not focused too much attention on it so I don't know if they use it enough. Maybe I will try to spread it on the ground as well. I figured it would just get buried from their scratching (it has a dirt floor) so hence the tin. I also put oyster shells in a similar tin for their calcium.

 

[Marcymom3]

You know, maybe mine are just scratching it into the sand in their run! Next time I buy it I'll do what you did and put some in a container. Their oyster shell is in a hog pan already.

 

[allpeepedout]

I am new to chickens, but I understand and experience that Molting + Only Winter Light = Few to No Eggs. My BR continue to lay at 50%, the others not at all. I believe laying picks up starting picking up in February in my neck of the woods. I hope so!